Chapter 475

I took a deep breath, forced myself to hold back the tears and ran out of the ballroom without looking back. Behind me, Ethan's voice echoed, desperate and heart-wrenching. "Evelyn! Don't go! Please, give me a chance!" The cold wind whipped through my hair. Tears froze on my cheeks, only to be swept away mercilessly by the gusts. I had no idea how far I had run or where I had ended up. I just plunged into the endless darkness of the night. "Miss, are you alright?" A concerned voice called from behind. I looked up to see a well-dressed middle-aged man, his face full of worry. "I'm fine…" I forced a weak smile. "I'm just a little tired." "It's late, and it's not safe to be out here alone," the man said gently. "How about I give you a ride home?" I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Maybe it was the sincerity in his eyes, or maybe I was simply too exhausted to run any longer. "Thank you…?" "Dalton, Richard Dalton," he said with a smile. I teach at the Melando Academy of Art, a